Quality of Root Canals Performed by the Inaugural Class of Dental Students at Libyan International Medical University

Assessment of Modality and Accuracy of Single Root Canal Treatment Performed by Undergraduate Students in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study

Aim To assess the radiographic quality of root canal treatment (RCT) performed on single-rooted anterior teeth by undergraduate dental students of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU). Moreover, the study also aimed to assess the types of procedural errors encountered during root canal treatment and to compare the results between male and female students. Methodology The record of patients who visited the endodontic clinics at IAU between the years 2018 and 2021 was obtained from the medical records department. The inclusion criteria for the study involved: i) RCT performed on anterior teeth with a single root; ii) RCT performed by fourth, fifth, and sixth-year undergraduate dental students; and iii) availability of pre-operative and post-operative peri-apical radiographs. After the inclusion criteria, a total of 278 records were selected. The radiographs were accessed by two calibrated examiners for the length of the obturation, homogeneity, and taper. In addition, procedural errors such as the presence of a ledge, perforation, or fractured instruments were also observed. Analysis was done using the Chi-square test. Results A total of 139 teeth (50%) were found to have an adequate quality root canal treatment. Regarding the length of the obturation, 85.6% were considered acceptable, while 65.1% of the obturations had acceptable radiographic homogeneity. The acceptable taper was found in 71.9% of the obturations. Dental students who participated in this study demonstrated a low rate of procedural errors, with 4.7% ledge formation and 1% perforation. A statistically significant difference was found in the quality of root canal obturation (P = <0.001) performed by fourth, fifth, and sixth-year students. Moreover, a significant difference was also observed between maxillary and mandibular teeth (P= 0.032). Conclusion The quality of RCT performed by undergraduate dental students demonstrated that improvements are required. The teaching methods used in the endodontic courses need to be developed and improved to ensure the best possible learning and treatment outcomes.

Quality of endodontic record-keeping and root canal obturation performed by final year undergraduate dental students: An audit during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

To assess the quality of endodontic record-keeping and root canal obturation performed by undergraduate final year dental students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dental records and dental radiographs of patients who received endodontic treatments between March 2020 and March 2022 by undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic were included. The audit data were collected based on the European Society of Endodontology guidelines retrospectively via assessing the patient's clinical records and intraoral periapical radiograph. Root canal obturation quality was evaluated based on the following parameters: adaptation, length, taper, and mishap. A root filling is defined as satisfactory only when all four parameters were graded as acceptable. Subsequently, the data were recorded and analysed using Chi-Square test with the level of significance set at p = 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 111 patient records with 111 root canal-treated teeth were evaluated. The highest percentage of documented evidence was noted in the patient's general records, while the endodontic treatment records showed the lowest percentage of documented evidence. 78 (70.3%) of root canal-treated teeth were deemed satisfactory with acceptable adaptation, length, taper, and absence of mishap. Moreover, no statistical significance in terms of root canal filling quality was noted between anterior and posterior teeth, and between maxillary and mandibular arch.

CONCLUSIONS

Although patient records and root canal fillings quality were deemed satisfactory in most cases, strict documentation requirements and continuing dental education in audit training are necessary for quality assurance.

Endodontic mishaps during root canal treatment performed by undergraduate dental students: An observational study

Endodontic mishaps during root canal treatment (RCT) are considered to be one of the most commonly encountered errors, which affect the quality of treatment and may have dangerous health implications for patients.The present study was conducted to assess the frequency and types of endodontic mishaps in root canal-treated teeth performed by undergraduate dental students.A total 404 endodontically treated teeth were performed by undergraduate dental students of King Khalid University College of Dentistry, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The radiographs of the endodontically treated teeth were studied for a period of 6 months, and the related demographic data were collected from patient files.The most commonly identified mishaps were related to obturation, where the maximum number of cases (68.1%) had under-obturated root canals. More endodontic mishaps were performed by students in level 9 education. The upper left 2nd molar teeth had a higher frequency of mishaps, and molars were found to have more access-related mishaps. Lastly, access-related and instrument-related mishaps had a low frequency of occurrence.The majority of endodontic mishaps found in the study sample were related to root canal obturation. The undergraduate students at level 9 were less proficient in conducting RCTs with many endodontic mishaps when compared to the cases performed by students at higher levels. The study suggests relevant guidance for dental students while performing RCTs, especially during obturation of the root canals.

An audit of root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate pre-clinical dental students, Yemen

BACKGROUND

Dental students are future dentists. Continuous assessment and improving of the educational curricula will ensure excellent academic performance of dental students and thus providing the community with the best treatment modalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the root canal filling quality performed in extracted teeth by preclinical undergraduate Yemeni dental students.

METHODS

Root canal treatment was performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students on 331 extracted human teeth including 741 roots. The teeth were then collected and evaluated radiographically based on three criteria of quality (length, density, and taper). Cohen's Kappa test was used to assess the agreement between the examiners and Chi-squared test was used for the association between the study variables. The level of significant was set at α < 0.05.

RESULTS

The results of the study revealed that the overall quality of roots canals fillings was poor. However, more than half of the study sample (53.4%) had adequate length, 13.1% had adequate density, and 14.2% had adequate taper. Anterior as well as single-rooted teeth had significantly better quality than posterior and multi-rooted teeth, respectively. The root canal fillings quality mandibular teeth was better than of maxillary teeth with no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings of the study emphasize the need of improving the endodontic course in the preclinical level and more advanced techniques and instruments should be incorporated.

Radiographic Assessment of the Quality of Root Canal Fillings Performed by Senior Dental Students

Objective:

To evaluate the radiographic technical quality of root canal fillings performed by senior dental students at Alfarabi colleges for dentistry, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

Radiographic assessment was conducted for 246 teeth (390 root canals) endodontically treated by senior dental students to evaluate the quality of root canal fillings. Three criteria were evaluated to assess the technical quality of root canal fillings: length, density, and taper. The root canal filling was considered acceptable if it had an adequate length with no voids and consistent taper from the orifice to the apex. Statistical analysis was conducted using Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney, and chi-square tests (P=0.05).

Results:

Acceptable root canal fillings were detected in 127 (32.6%) patients. The frequency of an acceptable root canal filling was the highest for the upper anterior teeth (40%). There were significant differences in the length and density among the types of teeth (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the taper among the types of teeth (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

The quality of root canal fillings performed by senior undergraduate dental students at AlFarabi colleges for dentistry was acceptable in 32.6% of patients. This outcome enhanced the poor performance of undergraduate dental students in the area of endodontics.

Iatrogenic Errors during Root Canal Instrumentation Performed by Dental Students

INTRODUCTION

The present study was set to investigate the training quality and its association with the quality of root canal therapy performed by fifth year dentistry students.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total number of 432 records of endodontic treatment performed by fifth year dentistry students were qualified to be further investigated. Radiographs were assessed by two independent endodontists. Apical transportation, apical perforation, gouging, ledge formation, and the quality of temporary restoration were error types investigated in the present study.

RESULTS

the prevalence of apical transportation, ledge formation, and apical perforation errors were significantly higher in molars in comparison with other types of teeth. The most prevalent type of error was the apical transportation, which was significantly higher in mandibular teeth. There was no significant differences among teeth in terms of other types of errors.

CONCLUSION

The quality of training provided for dentistry students should be improved and endodontic curriculum should be modified.

Radiographic technical quality of root canal treatment performed by undergraduate dental students at the Academy Dental Teaching Hospital, UMST, Sudan

Aim:

To radiographically evaluate the technical quality of root canal treatment performed by undergraduate dental students and compare the findings with other institution's work.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Academy Dental Teaching Hospital involving postoperative periapical radiographs of patients who were endodontically treated by batch #14 undergraduate dental students of final year (2013–2014) from UMST, Sudan. The total number of the students was 21, while periapical radiographs fulfilling the required criteria were 173. The radiographs of each case were evaluated in terms of length, density, and taper of the root canal filling. Procedural errors such as presence of a ledge, perforation, and a separated instrument were also recorded. Chi-square test was used to determine statistically significant differences between variables, with the level of significance set at P ≤ 0.05.

Results:

The overall quality of performed root canal treatment was adequate in almost half (55.5%) of the evaluated teeth. The length and taper of the root canal filling were found to be significantly associated with maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth with P = 0.018 and 0.006, respectively. No associations were found between the density and presence of separated instrument in the maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth, P = 0.314 and 0.480, respectively.

Conclusion:

The radiographic quality of root canal treatment performed by undergraduate students of batch #14 UMST was acceptable in 55.5% of the cases. Special emphasis must be placed on the educational methods and training of students for providing root canal treatment on molar teeth.